Degreasing apparatus



March 3, 1931. M. DE. w. mRsT DEGREA S ING APPARATUS Filed Sept 17, 1 927 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Maurice fleWitt flirs his Attornes March 3, 1931.

M. DE \N. HIRST DEGRETA ING APPARATUS Filed Sepi. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Maurice flemtb first B hisAttorneys March 3, 1931.

M. DE W. HIRST DEGREA S I NG APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 7 Hirsz;

Maurice fleW'i Patented Mar. 3, 1931..

URICE nn TED STATES wrr'r nrns'r, or OCEAN CITY; NEW .TERsEY, ASSIGNOR- or ONE-HALF 'ro Y A. GOODWIN', or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA PATENT-1i? nnsanasms ArrA'rus Application filed September 17, i927. Serial No. 220,241.

This invention relates to degreasing sys-.

terms of the type in which the liquid used for cleaning purposes may be clarified so that such liquid can be used repeatedly. j An objectof the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type s ecified in which an anhydrous neutral hqui may be used as the solvent; I I

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the liquid may be used repeatedly without loss through evaporation, or other causes. 1

Another object is to provide means for distilling the dirty liquid used in a degreasing apparatus.

Another object is to provide adegreasing apparatus which eliminates all danger of fire or explosion.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type specified in which all odor is eliminated, thereby permitting pressing of the materials immediately upon -t eir removal from the apparatus, when such materials are wearing*apparel.

Another object is to provide a degreasing a paratus with means for removing all the a herin solvent from the materials after they have been cleaned.

Another object is to produce an efficient, strong and durable degreasing apparatus which may be economically constructed and operated. r a

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. 4 i

Thevlews of the drawings are Figure 1 is-a side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; i 4

Fig. 2 is a view of one end thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the oppositg end, as seen from the line E '3, Fig. 1; an I Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section as seen from the line 4-4' of Fig. 1.

in cleaning establishments for the purpose of dry cleanin By my invention, I haveprovided an ap" paratus which is primarily. adapted to be though it is to be un erstood that-the apparatuscanbe used for other similar purposes,

such for instance, as for cleaning raw wool,.

etc. In order to reduce the, danger of explo- 'sions and'fires causedby using volatileliquids" forgeleaning purposes, I prefer'to' use anianfhydrpus' neutralliquid as a solvent. The apparatus is provided with a storage tank ftjrfthe liquid, and means are included 'in theapparatu s for.removing all dirt and otlienforeign matter from the used liquid, and for-also removin all; the adhering solvent frointhe materi s after they have been cleaned,,so thatpsuch materials will be dry and odorless when removed from the apparatus. 9

Referring to the dra'wings,'the apparatus comprises a storage tank'5, having an inlet 6 closed by means of a detachable cover 7. The cover should fit tightly on to the tank.

The tank 5 is supported a suitable distance above the floor, and near its bottom the tank 1 cleaning establishments.- The machine, however, should be provided with a tightly fitted door 12 that is removably retained'jin posi tion by means of a locking device13, of any desired construction.

, The machine 9 comprises a cylindrical casing'inwhich is mounted a-skeleton drum. 14. The drum is adapted to be driven byan electric motor 15, .for other source of power, through suitable gearing- 1 6 so constructed as to impart areverse rotary motion to the drum.

This driving means may be of any of therapproved forms which areuniversally usedfor causing'a rotary motionfor a limited amount in one direction, and rotary motionffor' the same number of revolutions in theopposite direction.

The drum 14 should preferably be made from wood slats, and it should have an opening in its side wh'ichis closed by a removable door 141, to permit access to be had to the interior of the drum.

The pipe 10 should enterithe machine 9 at a distance above the bottom thereof, so that a suitable quantity of the cleaning liquid can be delivered into the machine.

Surrounding the lower half of the side of the machine 9 isa semi-cylindrical jacket 17 that forms a closed chamber.

On one side of the machine, near the top of the jacket 17, is an inlet 18, while onthe opposite side of the machine, and also near the top of the jacket 17, there is an outlet 19. The bottom of the jacket is provided with a drain cock 20. I

A steam pipe 21 is connected to the inlet 18, and a steam pipe 22 is connected to the outlet 19.

The chamber formed by the jacket 17 is adapted to be heated by steam, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

One end of the machine 9 may have a gauge 23 for indicating the amount of liquid therein. There is also a thermometer 24 installed on theend of the machine 9 for indicating the amount of temperature therein. Likewise, the tank 5 is provided with a liquid gauge 25.

Mounted above the tank 5 is another tank 26. The tank 26 is of the same general size and construction as the tank 5.

The machine 9 has an outlet 27 in its bottom, through which the liquid may be withdrawn from the machine. A valve 28 is fixed to the outlet 27 for controlling the flowmay be of any desired type.

The tank 26 serves as a storage tank for the dirty liquid, and it has a gauge 33 for indicat ing the level of the liquid therein.

The tank 26 can have an opening 34 formed in its top, such opening cover 35.

One end of the tank 26, near the bottom thereof, is connected to a distilling apparatus 36, by means of a pipe 37, provided with a ceramic valve 38, similar in form to the valve 11. i

The distilling apparatus 36 comprises a cylindrical casing in which is disposed a being closed by a coiled pipe 39. The pipe enters the casing near the bottom thereof, and leaves the casing near the top thereof.

The pipe 39 is connected to pipes 40 and 41. Steam from a suitable source of supply is delivered to the pipe 39 through the pipe 40 and returned therefrom through the pipe 41.

A gauge 60 is mounted exteriorly of the apparatus 36 is closed by a plate 42.

Beneath the plate 42 there is a bottom cap 43, having a steam pipe 44 connected to its side, and a drain cock 45 in its bottom. This .cap provides a closed chamber that is separated from thedistilling apparatus 36 by the plate 42.

If so desired, the bottom of the casing of the distilling apparatus 36 may be flanged, and the plate 42 and the cap 43, which latter may have its upper edge flanged, can be attached to the flange of the casing by means of bolts 46. Gaskets 47 being disposed on each side of the plate 42 between the flanges provide a tight connection between the several parts.

The casing of the distilling apparatus 36, above the plate 42, is provided with a flanged opening 48, closed by a removably attached cover 49. The opening 46 is for the purpose of permitting access to the interior of the distilling apparatus 36, so that the accumulation of silt therein may be removed.

The top of the casing of the distilling apparatus 36 is tapered, as indicated at 50.

A pipe 51 is connected to the top of the distilling apparatus 36, and this pipe leads to a coiled pipe 52, disposed in a cylindrical tank 53, constituti a condenser.

The lower end of t 1e pipe 52 passes through the side of the tank 53, near to the bottom thereof, and is connected to the tank 5 by a pipe 54.

Between the tank 5 and the tank 53, the

pipe 54 has a ceramic valve 55 mounted therein. This valve is similar in design to the valves 11 and 38 previously described.

The tank 51 has an inlet 56 and an overflow pipe 57. This tank is adapted to be filled with a cooling fluid, such as water, which can be admitted to the tank through the inlet 56 and discharged therefrom through the pipe 57.

The top of the machine 9 has mounted thereon a cylindrical casing 58, the upper end of which is tapered, like the top of the distilling apparatus 36.

The top of the casing 58 has a pipe 59 leading therefrom to the pipe 51, and in this Way the interior of the machine 9 is in direct communication with the condenser 53.

In operation, assuming that the machine 9 is empty, the door 12 and the door 141 of the drum-14 are first opened.

A desired quantity of the materials to be cleaned is placed in the drum and itsdoor closed. Then the casing of the machine 9 is hermetically sealed by closing the door 12 and fastening the same by means of the locking device 13.

The valve 11 is now opened topermit a quantity of the cleaning liquid from the tank 1 5 to flow into the machine, the gauge 23 indicating the amount of liquid in the machine. when the desired level is obtained, the valve 11 is closed and the machine started.

After a suflicient run, the machine is stopped and the valvp 28 opened. The pump 32 is now set in motion to force the dirty liquid into the tank 26. When all of the dirty liquid has been withdrawn from the machine. 9, the pump is stopped and the valve 28 closed.

The valve 11 is now opened to permit a quantity of clean liquid to flow into the machine. The machine is run again for a few minutes so that the clean liquid will rinse the materials in the drum, after which the The steam is circulated through the jacket liquid can be drawn off as previously described and pumped in the tank 26. This operation can be repeated untilrall dirt and dirty liquids have been removed.

Steam is now run into the j acketthrough pipe 21 to heat the bottom of the machine.

so as to increase thetemperature inside of the machine sufiiciently to remove, all the solvent in the materials in the drum, the spent steam passing out of the jacket through the pipe 22.

By heating the interior of the machine 9 in this manner, the cleaning solvent is vaporized, and the gas passes upwardly through the casing 58,.the pipes 59 and 51 and into' the coil 52 where it is condensed and flows as liquid through the pipe 54 back into the tank 5. I

After all of the solvent has been removed from the materials in the drum 14, the door 12 is opened and the materials removed from the drum. If the materials that have been cleaned by the process are wearing apparel, they will be ready for immediate pressing. Due to the fact that all the solvent will have been removed therefrom, the materials will be odorless.

When the tank 26 contains a quantity of dirty liquid'and it is desired to replenish the supplyln tank 5, the valve 38 is opened and the liquid in tank 26 permitted to flow into the distilling apparatus 36.

During operation of the distilling apparatus 36, steam is circulated through the coil 39 which is surrounded by the dirty liquid.

The heat from the coil 39 will heat' the liquid in the distilling apparatus 36 sufficiently to turn the same into vapor. The vapor will pass upwardly through the top of the still and then through the pipe 51 into the coil 52 of the condenser. The vapor will be then condensed, and will then flow through the pipe 54 back into tank 5.

In transforming the liquid in the distilling apparatus 36 into vapor, the heavy particles of dirt and silt will be deposited in the bottom of the casin of the'distilling apparatus, resting on the p ate-42 (see Fig. 4),

The silt deposited in the bottom of the distilling apparatus may be removed, from time to time, through the opening 48. However,

in order to conserve all of the solvent, before turned to vapor to pass upwardly through the.

casing of the distilling apparatus 36, in much the same general manner as the solvent is removed from within the machine 9.

It will be understood that all of the solvent will be conserved because all of the units of the deviceare connected in such a way as to prevent entrance of air thereto, and as the solvent used is non-flammable, fires or ex- I plosions will be prevented.

The invention set forth herein is, of course, susceptible of various modifications and adaptations.

The invention claimed is a 1. A degreasing apparatus including a supply tank for the cleaning liquid, means for cleaning the materials, sa1d means being connected to the said supply tank, a tank for the dirty claning liquid, means for pumping the Iiquid from the cleaning means to the said dirty liquid tank, heating means for the cleaning means for vaporizin the remaining solvent in the materials ai ter the major portion of the solvent has been withdrawn,

for removing saturation, and means comprisin a tank of large diameter directly o0nnecte to said cleaning means for quickly withdrawing the vaporlzed solvent.

2. A degreasing apparatus including a supply tank for the cleaning liquid, means for cleaning the materials, said means being'connected to the said supply tank, a tank for the .dirty cleaning liquid, means for pump-' ing the liquid from the cleaning means to the said dirty liquid tank, .a condenser connected to said supply tank, means for distilling the liquid from said dirty liquid tank'and for. passing the same through the said condenser, heating means for the cleaning vmeans for vaporizing the remaining solvent in the materials after the major portion of the solvent has been withdrawn to the dirty liquid tank,- and means comprising a tank of large diameter directly connected at one end of said cleaning means, and at its other end to said condenser, for quickly withdrawing the vaporized solvent.

3. A- degreasing apparatus comprisingmeans for cleaning the materials with a liquid, means for drawing off the cleaning liquid from the cleaning means,means for vaporizing the liquid remainin in the cleaning means, means for condensing the vapor and large-size means directly connecting sai cleaning means wlth said condenser, permitting quick removal of excess vapors in said cleaning means. 4; In degreasing apparatus, a closed unventedseries comprising a. cleaning tank, a."

pump for discharging the contents of the cleaning tank, a dirty liquid tank to which the pump discharges, a still to which the dirt liquid tank discharges, a condenser to whic the still discharges and a clean liquid tank to which the condenser dischar es, said clean liquid tank having a controlla le discharge connection to said cleaning tank and a con-' nection between the cleaning tank and the condenser permitting the circulation of vaporized cleaning liquids therebetween, said connection comprising a tank of relatively large diameter? MAURICE DE WITT HIRST. 

